Sign



Jan 15, lg940- l. v, MANSELLY' SIGN Filed Jan. 11, 1938 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 16, 194() i UNITED STATES PATENT {GFFlCE 2,186,982 SIGN Irving V. Mansell, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application January 11, 1938, Serial No. 184,442

17 Claims. (Cl.` 40-130) l This invention relates lto display signs and the but other-plastics which have been used as glass like, and particularly to an improved face plate substitutes may be ernlloed.`

for such signs or displays or surface iinishes In this drawing: 4 Where the hard glossy surface nish of glass is Fig. 1 iS a front face View 0f the upper DOIOH i :an advantage. of a sign embodying this invention; 5*

' It is an object of the invention to provide a Fig. Zis a vertical transverse section thereof glass face structure which is especially adapted on an enlarged scale; V for use with elongated tubular lamp signs and Fig. 3 is a rear view of one of the characters which adds to such signs shatter-proof or safety in the sign of Figs. 1 and 2; I ""5 characteristics, permitting the use of ordinary Fig. l is a detailed section oi' a portion of a face 10l= glass for the face of the sign and also to add adplate Which may be used fOI Such Sign; ditional strength to such ordinary glass and per` Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a somewhat mits lgreater deflection thereof under nominal different construction which may be vused for pressures Without cracking or breaking of the larger face plates; i glass. Fig. 6 is a detailed section taken substantially 1lii It is also an object of the invention to provide Online 6-6 0f Fig. 3 ShOWng the use 0f the 00na composite glass face section which can be readstruction of Fig. 4; and

ily made translucent, transparent or opaque as Fig. '7 is a similar section showing the use of desired, to most effectively bring out the display the construction of Fig. 5. L-matter. Also to make a construction wherein the The sign construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 20 back or rear side of the face of the sign display is a double faced sign,v comprising the two oppoforms an admirable base for the mounting of the site faces l0 and H heid at the desired disiaIiCe tubular lamps with the necessary appurtenances apart by any' suitable mOlliltiIlg OI' framer coninside the sign. struction. In the present case, by way of ex- 2.52 It is a further object ofthe invention to proample, these two faces are mounted in a circular lvide a construction Which will seal in on the face metal frame l2 having inwardly extending anges of the glass in a substantially permanent manner i3 behind Which the faces l0 and lIl are mounted. the various colors and designs required for any Between these tWo face plates lll and I I are particular sign or display, and also to provide a mounted the illuminated lamps indicatedin the 3e) .construction which affords protection for the present instance as elongated luminous tubes I4. 302

various colors from deterioration because they These may be Of any Suitable lamp CODSlillCiOIl, are sealed in and bonded to the glass. a common lamp in use at the present time being Still another object of the invention is to prothe so-called neon or luminous glass tube vide a construction which has heat insulating lamps. These lamps aregenerally called neon 35,' properties so that comparatively hot tubular or "neon type lamps although they may be'lled 35y lamps may be placed immediately on the back of with different gases than neon gas, such for exthe composite glass faces with a minimum of ample as helium, argon, or the like or mixtures of danger of the heat cracking or breaking the glass, the same- Othsl' tubular lamps s uCh as filament -A Still further object is to provide a construelamps may also be used. As this 1s a double faced 40 tion in which the composite background which is Sign and the display Characters '0n the i'fWO faces 4()vr bonded to the glass face can be readily bonded or may be different or .rei/.ersedg there is Shwn in the adhered to any other solid, hard, stili, or pliable drawmg two 0f the@ 1mnllolls tubes or lamps, material where the surface effect of the glass is one lmmediately behmd each face plate to muml" r desired, such for example as in store fronts and nate the dlplay matter theon' 1n the present other Surfaces of Veneer finish* n l case there 1s shown a partition t5 :between the 45 With the foregoing and other .Objects in View l lamps and cross baliies I6 extending across the h. h .u b t th d t. space between the face plates and the partition W 1C W1 ecome aipparen .as e, escmp 2n to confine and diff-use the light, these baliles beproceeds, I have devised a construction, certam ing mounted in am, Suitable manner as for eX :m embodlmfn'is 0f Whlh are Illustrated m the ac ample by small brackets Il cemented to the baffles 50 companying drawing forming a part of this speciand the backing on the plates? but it is to be un- `iication. It is,'however, to be understood that derstoodA this construction and arrangement is various changes and modifications may be em- 4shown merely by Way of example and that any ployed Within the scope ofthe invention. Also, desired constructiony and arrangement may be the invention is not conned to the use of glass employed` The faces I0 and l I are of improved construction which gives the required strength and desirable non-shatterable properties without the use of objectionably thick and heavy glass plates. Two specific constructions involving this new principle are Shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4 there is shown a glass plate 20 mounted on the rear face of which is a iibrous reenforcing sheet 2l, this sheet being securely bonded to the rear face of the glass 2li by a layer 22 of nonshattering adhesive resin. In the form shown in Fig. 5 the strength of the brous sheet 2i is still further increased by a fabric sheet 23 thoroughly bonded with the iibrous sheet 2| and this composite sheet is bonded to the rear face of the glass by the layer of non-shattering adhesive resin 22 the same as in the form of Fig. 4. It will be evident that the construction of Fig. iY does not have the additional strength and resistance to breaking which the form of Fig. 5 has but may be sufcient for smaller signs, while the construction of Fig. 5 has sufficient strength for any of the larger signs now at present employed.

There are a number .of materials which may be used for these reenforcing backing sheets 2l, the preferred being a sheet of asbestos fiber as this is reproof and has other desirable charac teristics, but there are other materials which may be used in place of the asbestos, such for example as canvas, duck, heavy paper, Bakelite and a number of other materials, depending upon the purpose to which the invention is put. Siinilarly the reenfcrcing woven fabric sheet 23 may be of different materials, such for example as canvas pasting material, cheeseclcth, and other fabrics. As indicated, however, I have found that for the backing up materia-l sheet asbestos alone is very satisfactory for the small areas, while this sheet asbestos with the bonded inner layer of fabric 23 to add strength is preferred for the larger areas and for outside signs where additional strength and safety qualities are desired. This composite backing 2| and 23 may be made by laying together the layer of asbestos fiber and the woven cloth fabric while the asbestos is still moist and pressing them firmly together by running them through rolls. This provides a substantially unitary structure which is very eiective in combination with the layer of adhesive resin in imparting to the glass the desired strength and non-shatterable qualities.

The non-shatterable adhesive material 22 may be any of a number of diierent materials of resin or cellulose material some of which are now commonly employed in making laminated, nonshatterable glass for use in automobiles, and these materials may be purchased on the market under various names. I prefer for sign and display work a suitable adhesive such as is provided in the acrylic and methacrylate resins. In making up these improved face plates I take a sheet of glass 2li as thin as practical for the desired area and coat one side of this glass sheet with a suitable adhesive such. for example as the acrylic or methacrylate resins in a. suitable solvent, and before this is applied to the glass there may be thoroughly mixed with it the required color in dye, pigment, or other coloring matter, desired for the display matter. A layer of this same adhesive resin is also applied to or incorporated in the iibrous sheet or backing 2l, or the composite sheet 2|, 23 depending on which is used, which layer of resin also partially saturates this ribrous sheet, and this resin coating as applied to the iibrous sheet also has incorporated in it the same color as is in the layer applied to the glass sheet. These prepared sheets of glass and fibrous material are then suitably processed or bonded to each other to make one composite face.

The display or character strokes as required for the display matter, such as those indicated for example at 24, are then outlined and cut or otherwise imposed upon or through the layers of iibrou's material and resinous material, so that this asbestos or fibrous material and other coatings within the outlines of the character strokes may be removed from the back of the glass sheet, exposing clear glass between these areas. The clear glass character strokes are generally coated on the clear glass within the cut out sections with a similar resinous material as indicated at 22a to which has been added the desired color, or if a clear stroke is desired no color at all, so that the face of the display will present the required design and color effects when viewed from the front. This replacement coating 22a within the outline of the character strokes being of the same base material as the adhesive resin which immediately bonds with said resinous material between the iibrous sheet and the glass thereby creaies the eiect of carrying shatter-proof qualities across said character strokes providing a degree of replacement for the iibrous or asbestos sheet and resin layers which have been removed.

Another method by which this composite sign face with the character strokes showing thereon may be produced is t0 cut out the character strokes in the required design in the asbestos or fiber sheet before the application of the resin and the bonding of the brous reenforcing sheet to the glass sheet. Also, other methods or processes for obtaining the same result will be apparent and will be developed in practice.

It has been found in practice that the combination of this reenforcing or fibrous layer 2| or '2i-B3 with the layer of non-shattering adhesive in bonding these fibrous materials to the glass makes a much stronger construction and one which will be much less liable to shatter than are constructions using the non-shattering adhesive resin alone, permitting the use of much thinner and therefore lighter glass sheets, which is very importa-nt in glass display signs which must be suspended outdoors or over areas which are used for passage by individuals such for example as sidewalks and similar areas. I have also found that this combination permits the glass to yield or iieX further under a blow or lateral pressure before the glass will crack.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that it provides a composite glass plate which can be readily made translucent, transparent or opaque. The fibrous back also makes an admirable medium or base for the mounting of the tubular lamps or other necessary appurtenances within the sign, as the required mounting elements may be readily secured to this fibrous back by various adhesives, which much more readily adhere to this material than they would to the face of the glass plate itself and as well avoid the possibility of causing a mar on the face of the display opposite the mounting. It will also be apparent that in this construction the pigment or coloring matter is sealed on to the glass face in a substantially permanent manner, because it is .incorporated in the layer of adhesive resin which is between the fibrous sheet and the glass. This also aords protection for these various colors from deterioration so that the display sign matter lretains its true colors and brilliancy more permanently.

. This compositeoonstruction involving the asbestos or other brous layer and the layer of adhesive resin still further provides a very effective insu-lation' for heat or cold so that comparatively hot tubular lamps may be placed immediately on the back of the sheets or composite faces, Without danger of the heat of the lamp cracking or breaking the glass, and if the brcus material is of asbestos it alsohas the effect of rendering the adhesive resin layer non-inflammable. Still further due to the fact that this fibrous layer may be readily bonded to other materials and much more readily than glass could be, this composite glass sheet may be used for store fronts and other similar uses Where the mounting requires adhering to other solid, hard, stiff or pliable material and Where it is desirable to havethe lustrous nish of a glass for the exterior surface.

It is to be understood that the term glass sheet is used in the vbroad sense to include other plastics which are in some cases being used as glass substitutes.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A non-shatterable glass face for a sign or the like comprising a sheet of glass to one face of which is secured a fibrous reenforcing sheet byl an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adhesive.

2. A glass face for a sign or the like comprising a sheet of glass, a sheet oi' brous material including a sheet of asbestos fibre and a sheet of fabric bonded therewith, and said sheet of brous material being secured to a face of the glass by an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adheslve.

3. A non-shatterable glass face fora sign or the like comprising a sheet of glass, a sheet of fibrous reenforcing material including a Woven fabric, and said sheet of brous material being secured to one face of the glass by an intermediate layer of a non-shatterable adhesive.

4. A non-shatterable glass face for a sign or the like comprising a sheet of glass, a sheet of fibrous reenforcingmaterial, said sheet of fibrous material being secured to a face of the glass by an intermediate layer of ar non-shatterable adhesive, and a colored pigment or dye incorporated in said adhesive.

5. A glass face for a sign or the like comprising a sheet oi glass, a reenforcing fibrous sheet including sheet of asbestos fibre and a sheet of lfabric bonded therewith, said iibrous sheet being secured toa face of the glass by a layer of nonshatterable adhesive, and colored pigment or dye incorporated in said adhesive.

6. A glass face for a sign comprising a sheet of glass,` a reenforcing sheet of brous material secured to a face of the glass by a layer of nonshatte-rab-le adhesive, said bro-us sheet being cut away` tovpermit passage of light and form character strokes, and the surface of the glass in said strokes being covered with said adhesive.

'7. A sign comprising a face including a glass sheet, a reenforcing fibrous sheet on the rear face reeni'orcing iibrous sheet at the rear of said glass including a sheet of asbestos bre and a strength ening fabric bonded therewith, said brous sheet being secured to the face of the glass by a layer of non-shatterable adhesive, said fibrous sheet having portions out out to provide character strokes, the glass surface in said strokes being covered with said adhesive, and an elongated tube lamp at the rear of said brous sheet to illuminate said strokes.

9. A display sign comprising a glass sheet, a reeniorcing iibrous sheet at the rear `face of said glass, said fibrous sheet being secured to the face of the glass by a layer of non-shatterable adhesive, portions of said brous sheet being cut away to form character strokes, colored pigment. or dye incorporated-in said adhesive layer to form a background for the character strokes, and an elongated tube lamp at the rear of lthe fibrous sheet to illuminate said character strokes.

l0. A display sign comprising a glass sheet, a reenforcing fibrous sheet at the rear of said glass, said fibrous sheet being secured to the inner face of the glass sheet by a layer of non-shatterable adhesive, said fibrous sheet and layer of adhesive having portions cut out to provide character strokes, the glass surface in said strokes being covered with similar adhesive, said adhesive having color incorporated as required .for color of character str okes contrasting with the backfground for daylight visibility, and an elongated tube lamp at the rear of the fibrous sheet to illuminate said character strokes.

1l. A display finish for store fronts and the like comprising a sheet of glass, a sheet of reenforcing libre at the rear of said glass bonded therewith,

said brous sheet being secured to the face of the glass by a layer of non-shatterable adhesive, colored pigment, dye or other coloring material being incorporated in the adhesive to form the color required for the surface finish.

12. A preformed shatter-proof or safety structural unit comprising a sheet of glass to one face of which is secured a brous reenforcing sheet by an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adhesive.

13. A non-shatterable glass face of composite structure, comprising a sheet of glass for the surface sheet, said glass sheet being backed up by a reenforcing sheet of brous material, said two sheets being bonded into one unit composite face by an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adhesive, and desired coloring to show from the front through the glass being incorporated in or between the two sheets.

14. A non-shatterable glass face of composite structure comprising a sheet of glass for the surface sheet, said glass sheet being backed up by a reenforcing sheet of fibrous material, said two sheets being bonded together into one unit composite face by an intermediate layer of nonshatterable adhesive.

15.1A non-shatterable glass face of composite structure comprising a sheet of glass for the surfacev sheet, said glass sheet being backed up by a reenforcing sheet of woven fabric, said two sheets being bonded together into one unit composite face by an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adhesive. l v

16. A non-shatterable glass face of composite structure, comp-rising a sheet of glass for the sur'- face sheet, said glass sheet being backed up by a reenforcing sheet of iibrous material, said'two sheets being bonded into one unit composite face by an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adhesive, and desired coloring either as plain background or background with character strokes or designs to show from the front through the glass being incorporated in or between the two sheets.

17. A non-shatterable glass face of composite structure, comprising a, sheet of glass for the surface sheet, a sheet of brous material including an unwoven brous sheet and a sheet of woven fabric bonded therewith, and said sheet of fibrous material being secured to the rear face of said glass by an intermediate layer of non-shatterable adhesive.

IRVING V. MANSELL. 

